Amphibian



J. M. HAl'r Aug. 2o, 1946.

AMPHIBIAN Filed Feb. 15, 1943v 2 sheets-sheep 1 rra/Afr J. M. HAlT AMPHIBIAN Aug. 20,1946.

Filed Eeb..15, 1945 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Aug. 20, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE` Food Machinery Corporation,

San Jose, Calif.,

a corporation of Delaware Application February 15, 1943, Serial No. 475,934 l Claims. (Cl. 115-1) This invention relates to amphibians, and has particular utility in cargo-carrying amphibians employed in amphibious naval warfare.

Amphibians provided for this purpose have track-laying belts mounted on opposite sides thereof, and must be relatively short to permit them to turn readily by differential driving of these belts. The cargo-carrying compartment in the ship must therefore be fairly deep with its floor well below the water level to accommodate the load they are designed to carry. Access t0 the .cargo compartment in the loading or unloading of cargo is had by lifting the cargo over the topside, and this constitutes a serious drawback Where heavy pieces of cargo are carried, as it requires a large force of men or special equipment to accomplish the loading or unloading of the ship.

Another serious handicap inherent in this design is found in the hazards to which soldiers carried by the amphibian are subjected when they have to climb over the top side in the face of enemy re, either to enter or leave the amphibian.

It is an object of my invention to provide an amphibian onto which cargo may be loaded and from which it may be unloaded Without passing over the topside of the ship.

Contrary to amphibians, the common design of landing boats is to make these relatively long and shallow, with their deck disposed above the Water level, and provide an end door which may be lowered onto the beach to serve as a ramp over which men and cargo, including wheeled vehicles, may be transferred from the deck onto the beach, or vice versa. However, amphibians have heretofore been thought bound by certain design limitations vwhich. prevented their being equipped with any such door. For an amphibian to be well balanced in the water, either' when loaded or light, it is necessary that the heavier elements of the equipment, such as theengine, transmission, control cabin, and fuel tanks be distributed about the ship in balancing relation with the center of buoyancy. It has become the practice, therefore, to occupy and block each end of the ship with one or more of these heavier equipment items. As the track-laying mechanisms are mounted on the side walls of the ship, it is simply not practical in conformity with this accepted principle of design for amphibians, to provide a door in a hull wall of the amphibian for introducing cargo into or unloading it from the cargo compartment of the ship.

It is a further object of my invention to provide v scription taken in 2 an amphibian in which the heavier items of equipment are so disposed as to give the amphibian good balance in the water when traveling loaded or light, and at the same time leave 5 one end of the amphibian free for the installation of a door therein.

The manner of accomplishing the foregoing objects, as well as further objects and advantages, will be made manifest in the following deconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3. v

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 mounting of the motor neath the yfloor thereof.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross section taken on the line 4 4 in Fig. 3.

Referring specifically to the drawingathe am- /phibian I0 shown therein includes a hull II having a central bottom plate I2, an arcuate bow plate I3, a sloping stern bottom plate I4, side walls I5, a bulkhead IB, a stationary turret I'I and a forward deck I 8. l, f

Built integrally with each of the side walls I5 is a pontoon 20. Mounted upon each pontoon 20 is a track-laying belt mechanism 2l which includes a series of bogie wheels 22 provided along the lower edge of the pontoon, a pair of idle rollers 23 mounted on top of the an idle sprocket 24 mounted on the rear upper corner of the pontoon, a drive sprocket 25 mounted on one end of a transmission 26 proof the amphibian bevided in the front end of the hull, and a tracklaying belt 30 which is trained about the sprockets 24 and 25, rollers 23 and bogie wheels 22. This belt has a series of grousers 3I which support and propel the amphibian when operating on land and which engage the Water to propel the amphibian when it is afloat.

When traveling on land, the grousers support the hull II so that the bottom plate I2 has adequate clearance to pass over obstacles normally encountered in such travel.

The transmission 26 has a high speed shaft 35 carrying a sprocket 36, through which power is adapted to be delivered to the transmission, the latter being controllable to differentially drive the track-laying belts 30 forwardly at various speeds or to drive these in reverse. Some of the levers for controlling this transmission are shown, butv it is unnecessary to illustrate or describe the of Fig. 1, and showing the v pontoon, l

i details or `the hull bottom I2 to y `engine compartment e2.

i gine compartment 42 is an engine 43, which is `dat in design and is preferably an opposedfY edge of the floor 4I.

this transmission as theseare well understood in the art.

Provided on the hull il and cooperating with Ithe side walls l5 and bulkhead I6 to form a cargo compartment 4G,

is a cargo floor 4l which is well below the water line and is spaced from form a shallow bilge Aand Mounted in the encylinder internal combustion engine. The engine i3 is preferably provided with a water tubes 5l and Air bulkhead IB.

of the radiator 53. The blower 68 Vis preferably driven by belts (ilV directly from the engine 43.

Journalledin vsuitable bearings mounted on the hull Il s0 as tobe parallel with and directly below the shaft 35, is a jack shaft-.'10 having a sprocket 'Il which is connected to the sprocket 36 by an endless chain 12'trained about these sprockets. The engine'43 is connected with thevshaft '1B through suitableV universal joints 'i5 and 16 and a shaft-'11. Thus power is trans-Y mitted from the engine rIt?) to the transmission 26. Y l

Closing the back end of the cargo comparte ment 40 is a gate or drop doorY 85' which is strongly constructed'and mounted on hinges which delivers' l 86 provided on the hull il adjacentthefrear g Hngedly connected to the lower edge of the door 85 is a, plate 81 which overlies the gap between the lower edge ofthe door and the floor M when the door is open as indicated by broken Ylines 89 -in Fig. 3.; The openingV and closing of the door 85 is controlled by cables "9U which are adapted to be wound up on orpaid out from Winches 9i provided in the hull walls l5. The Idoor 85 has tongues `92 which t into grooves 93 in the rear edges ci` the walls I5 so as to solidly integrate this door and the rear ends of these walls whensaid door is closed. Suitable sealing means, such as strips 95 of rubber or other elastic material, are provided about the opening into which the doorSE ts, sothat these strips are compressed between the door and the hull when the door is closed, to produce Va satisfactorily water-tight seal, preventingV the entrance of water into the amphibian.

It is to be noted that in the construction Vof my invention the engine opposite side of thecenter of buoyancy of the amphibian l!! from the transmission 26. These are the two heaviest pieces of equipment on the` amphibian, and they must be disposed so as to have a substantal balancing effect upon each other in order for the ship to be properly trimmed when it is traveling empty. This disposition of these pieces of equipment in my invention permits the installation of the door 85 in one yend of the hull, so as to eliminate the disadvantages inherent in the amphibian which must be loaded or unloaded by passing rthe cargo or men carried thereby over the topside.

The door 85 not only renders it much easier to load or unload heavy articles of carbo carried by the amphibian but permits the discharge of 43 is located on theV carried in tanks to enemy fire, by turning the amphibian with the door away from the enemy and allowing the soldiers to disembark and keep covered by the amphibian until they are ready for deploying and going into action.

Another great advantage of the disposition of the heavy equipment on the amphibian l of my invention, is that the engine is here located at a low level on the hull, thereby greatly increasing the stability of the craft. Fuel may be 98, mounted in the pontoons 2Q, and fed by gravity to the engine 43..

I claim:l f

1; An amphibian, a bottom, fand side walls; means for mounting or" said hull,V said belts being equipped with means for propelling said amphibian when afloat, and for supporting and propelling the same when traveling on'land, and at a height to give adequate lclearanceto permitl said` bottom comprising: a hull having two track-laying belts;

to pass over obstacles kencountered in landY travel; means forming a cargo compartment in said hull, having a floor spaced from said bottom to form a relatively shallow engine corn-V partment between said bottom and said floor; a relativelyV flat internal combustion engine mounted in said engine compartment, said engine being disposed between one end of said amphibian and the center of buoyancy thereof; a gear boX disposed on the opposite side of said center of buoyancy from said engine for transmitting power from said engine to said beits; and means for transmitting power from said engine to said gear box.

2. An amphibian, comprising: a hull having bottom,.and side walls; two track-laying belts; means for mounting said belts on said .side walls ofY said hull, said ybelts being equipped with means for propelling said .amphibian when aiioat, and for supporting and propellingthe same when traveling on land, and at a height to give adequate clearance to permit said bottom to pass over obstacles encountered in land travel; means forming a cargo compartment in said hull, having a iioor spaced from saidrbottom to vform a relatively shallow engine compartment between said bottom and said door; a

relatively flat internal combustion engine mounted in said engine compartment, said engine being disposed between one end of said amphibian and the center of buoyancy thereof, a transmission disposed on the opposite side ofV said center of buoyancy from said engine for transmitting power from said engine to said belts; means for transmitting power from Vsaid engine to said transmissian; and means forming a door in one end of said hull.

3. An amphibian, comprising: a hullhaving a bottom, and side walls; means forming Aa control cabin and for closing one end of said hull; two track-laying belts; means for mounting said belts on said side walls of said hull, said belts being equipped with means for propelling said vamphibian when afloat, and for supporting and propelling the same when traveling on land, and at a height to give adequate clearance to permit said bottom to pass over travel; means-forming a cargo compartment in said hull at the rear of said control cabin, said compartment having a floor spaced from said bottom toform a relatively shallow vengine compartment between said bottom and said oor; la relatively flat internal combustion engine mounted in, said engine compartment; gear power transsaid belts on said side walls mission means in said control cabin for selectively. low engine compartment between said bottom and transmitting power to said belts; and means for said floor; a relatively flat internal combustion transmitting power from said engine to Said engine mounted in said engine compartment; diftransmission means. ferential and transmission means disposed sub- 4. An amphibian, Comprising: a hull having a 5 stantially on the level of said sprocket means at bottom, and side walls; means forming a control one end of said amphibian for driving said belts cabin and for closing one end of said hull; two through said sprocket mea s; and means transtrack-laying belts; means for mounting said belts mitting power from said engine to said transmison said side walls of said hull, said belts being sion means, equipped with means for propelling said amphib- 8. An amphibian, comprising: a hull having a ian when aoat, and for supporting and propelbottom, and side walls; two track-laying belts; ling the same when traveling on land, `and at a means for mounting said belts on said sidewalls, height to give adequate Clearanoe topelmlt Sad said belts vbeing equipped with means for probottom to pass over obstacles encountered in land peiling Said amphibian when agent and for Suptravel; means forming a cargo compartment in l5 porting and propelling the same when traveling said hull at the rear of said control cabin, said on land and at a height to give adequate clear-- Compartment having a floor spaced from said botance to permit said bottom to pass over obstacles tom t0 form a relatively ShalloW engine compartencountered in land travel, upper runs of said ment between said bottom and Said floor; a relabelts being normally above the water line and tiVely hat internal combustion engine mounted lowerruns of said belts being normally/'below the in said engine Compartment; gear pOWer traIlS- water line when said amphibian is afloat; sprocket mission means in said control cabin for selectively means disposed at opposite ends nf said upper transmitting power to Said beltS; means fOr runs of said belts for guiding said upper runs and transmitting power from said engine to Said driving said belts; means forming a cargo oomtransmission means; and means forming adoor partment in said hull, having a oor disposed a in the opposite end. of Said hull, and for closing substantial distance below said water line, and the corresponding end of Said Cargo compartspaced from said bottom to form a relatively sha1 ment. low engine compartment between said bottom and 5. A combination aS in Claim 2, in Which Sad said floor; a relatively at internal combustion transmission is located a substantial distance engine mountedin Said engine Compartment,- diiabove Said engine and lies Substantially in a llOllferential and transmission means disposed subzontal plane, and in which said means for tranS- stantially on the level of said sprocket means at mitting power from Said engine to Said tranSmlS- one end of said amphibian for driving'said belts sion includes a power transmitting element disthrough said sprocket means; means transmitpoSed in a Vertical tranSverSe plane .lying beting power from said engine to said transmission tween said engine and Said tranSmiSSO means; and means forming a door in the opposite 6. An amphibian, Comprising: a hull having a en'd of said hull from said control cabin. bottom, and side walls and means forming a con- 9 An amphibian, comprising; a 11u11 having a trol cabin in one end thereof; two track-laying bottom, and Side Wa11s;'two track-laying belts; beltS; meaIlS fOI' mounting Sad belts 011 Sad Side 40 means for mounting said belts on said side walls, walls, said belts being equipped with means for said belts being equipped with means for proplopelllng Sad 2lllplllbln When afloat and fol' pelling said amphibian when afloat and forsup- Supporting and propelling the same when travelporting and propelling the same when traveling ing on land, and at a height to give adequate on land and at aheight to give adequate clearance Clearance to permit Said bottom t0 PaSS Over Ob- 45- to permit said bottom to pass over obstacles enstacles encountered in land travel; means f ermcountered in land travel, upper runs of said belts ing a Cargo Compartment in said hull, having a being normally above the water line and lower floor spaced from said bottom to form a relaruns of said belts being normally below 'the water tively shallow bilge; a transmission disposed in vline when Said amphibian is affoaii; Sprocket said control cabin in a substantially horizontal means disposed ai; Opposite ends 0f Said upper position for transmitting power to said belts; an engine mounted on said hull; a. substantially driving said belts; means forming a cargo comhorizontal shaft disposed in said bilge transmitpartment in said 11u11 having a floor disposed a ting POV/e1' from Sad engine t0 a point below Said substantial distance below said water line, and Control Cabin; and vertically disposed means fol' 55 spaced from said bottom to form a relatively shaltransmitting power from said shaft to said translow engine compartment between said bottom and mission. said hoor; a relatively flat internal combustion 7. An amphibian, CompriSing: a hull having a engine mounted in said engine compartment; difbottom, and Side Walls; liWO track-laying belts; ferential and transmission means disposed submeans for mounting said belts on said side Walls, 60 stantially on the level of said sprocket means at said belts being equipped with means for proone end of said amphibian for driving said belts peiling said amphibian when afloat and for supthrough said Sprocket means; means eransrnitting` porting and propelling the same when traveling power from said engine to Vsaid transmission on land and at a height to give adequate clearmeans; means forming a door in the opposite end ance to permit said bottom to pass over obstacles of said 11u11 from said control cabin, said door encountered in land travel, upper runs of said being hinged to said hull at the level of said door;

belts being normally above the water line and and means for maintaining a water-tight seal be lower runs of said belts being normally below the tween said door and said hull when said door is water line when said amphibian is aiioat; sprock- Closed,

et means dispo-Sed at opposite ends of said upper l0. An amphibian, comprising: a hull having a runs of said belts for guiding said upper runs and bottom, and side walls; two track-laying belts; driVlhg Said beltS; meanS forming a cargo commeans for mounting said belts on said side walls, partment in Said hull, having a oor disposed a said belts being equipped Iwith means for propelsubstantial distance below said water line, and ling said amphibian when aoat and for supportspaced from said bottom to form arelatively shalu ing and propelling the same when traveling on engine mounted in said engine compartment;

A amazes land andat a height to Vgive adequate clearancev to permit said bottom to pass over obstacles en-A countered in landtravel, upper runs of said belts being normally above the water line and lower runs of said belts being lnormally below the water line When said amphibian is afloat; sprocket meansdisposed at vopposite ends fsaid upper,

` l runs of said beltsfor guiding vsaid upper runs and driving said belts; meansrforrning a cargorcomypartment in said hull, having aoor disposed a substantial distance below said water line, and spaced from said `bottom to form a relatively 'sbal-v low engine compartment between said bottom and said floer; a relatively flat internal combustion resting on land, to form a ramp din 15 tween said door and said'hull when said door is closed; and rneansfor lowering said door into contact with the ground. when said amphibian is for loading or unloading said amphibian. p

JAMES M. HAIT. 

